An 11 year old Sharlto Copley beams proudly along side his Mr. T birthday cake.

Two things make this a brilliant photo:

• Young Sharlto, a massive A-Team fan, grows up to play H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdoch in the surprisingly decent 2010 movie.
• In Johannesburg, South Africa in 1984 - Mr. T is a hero.

Did you know that TV was considered too dangerous to introduce to South Africa until 1976? Furthermore, due to Apartheid, the UK and Australia boycotted programming sales to the nation. As part of a deal to allow Knight Rider to shoot in the Namib Desert, the state-run TV networks secured rights to show much of what we know as classic American 80’s TV: Miami Vice, Magnum P.I, Dallas, Airwolf and of course, The A-Team, positive black role model included.